Share Your World–2013, Week 38

I really liked Cee’s Share Your World questions this week, so thought I’d have a go!

1. What were you most likely doing on this day when you were 12 years old?

Since I’m writing this on a Saturday, I can unequivocally say I was at Adrienne Parker’s School of Dance, taking tap and ballet lessons: (loved the former, wasn’t nuts about the latter.) Miss Adrienne’s studio was in Everett Square, on the second floor of an old brick building that housed Brigham’s Ice Cream directly below.  If you’ve been to Boston in the past century, you know we love our Brigham’s! Sadly, the last shoppe closed this past May, but when I was 12, the chain was in its heyday! The highlight of Saturday dance was spending break eating ice cream sundaes in “our” booth.  Here’s a picture from Google to orient you:   

Imagine a Brigham’s sign where the red Sovereign Bank sign hangs….now look at the three windows directly above it.  If you squint back in time, I’m up there dancing!

2. If you could write about, paint a picture or photograph any scenery you’ve seen before, what scene would you use?

The scene from my backporch when I was growing up on Everett’s “Hospital Hill” is one of the most stunning, amazing sights in the world. No exaggeration! Through sheer luck, I found a photograph on Flickr that shows EXACTLY what I saw every day for 17 years!

Pretty remarkable, isn’t it?   Here’s a daytime shot taken from the top of the Whidden Hospital parking garage looking toward the Distrigas Terminal. I used to LOVE watching the tankers ease into port, just off frame to the left:

Everett is hilly and Boston–on the southern border–is visible from just about everywhere:!:

Moving on….

3. What is one of your favorite quotes?

Two years ago when I was thinking of starting a blog, I ran across a tweet that summed up my motivations. Sadly the author’s name didn’t stick with me, but the quote was a keeper: Communication is about finding your voice and creating networks to carry it.  And that, my friends, is why I blog!

And the final question:

4. What is your favorite dog?

Although I’ve never owned a dachshund, I’ve always thought they’d be fun to have around!  Such cute noses and teeny legs! Awwww!   I think beagles are adorable, too!

Well Cee, this was a really good challenge week!  I hope my post inspires others to participate :arrow:To Share Your World click this link!

Until next time…..

🙂 🙂 🙂

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Share Your World, 2013: Week 22

It’s been forever since I participated in Share Your World, but I’m jumping in (again!) because I REALLY liked these questions:

What was the last URL that you bookmarked?

I’m a huge fan of Scandinavian television series. After slogging through three seasons of subtitled episodes of Forbrydelsen, and one of Broen, I was hoping to find another Danish series just as good.  My googling brought me to the political thriller Borgen, and my latest bookmark is this Season 1 Trailer:

For relaxation, would you rather meditate, swim, walk, listen to music, write, read, yoga, qigong, or other?

That’s a toss-up between reading and walking.  If you don’t walk early in the day here, it’s too hot to be terribly relaxing!  Unless of course you’re at the beach. 🙂 On beach days, regardless of the time, just walking down the stairs and taking a tiny stroll is VERY refreshing!

Getting back to the subject of reading, I’d be remiss to leave out the book I’m enjoying now, The Abomination, by Jonathan Holt.  I bought it on a whim but it turns out this novel has all the components of a good story: interesting characters, a thoroughly 21st century plot, and a mystery with plenty of twists and turns! I especially love the two very different, yet plausible female heroines, and the setting that is equal parts American/Cyber/Italian.  Click on this sentence to give it a look!

You’re given $500,000 dollars, what do you spend it on?

Hahahahahahaha!  Are we talking 500 Gs before or after taxes?  If the government’s coming for their cut, I think I’d be far more conservative, and carefully consider how and when to spend it.   But let’s assume the government leaves me alone, and I have 500,000 cold hard cash dollars in my possession. Yowzaa!  I’d take 30k off the top and use it for the trip to England. Instead of staying 2 weeks, I’d stay for 6 and expand my travels to include Ireland, Wales, and Scotland (including Shetland.)  I’d fly back via Faroe, and return to the States through Boston to spend a few days with my boys!  Sound good?

Did you like swinging as a child? Do you still get excited when you see a swing?

Personally, I was neutral about swinging, but my oldest son most definitely was NOT!  It was impossible to push him too high or too fast.  And of course he loved jumping off at ever increasing heights to “fly!”   Oy!!!  Not surprisingly, he continued this penchant for “flying” (in the form of skateboarding) through college and beyond! Whenever I see swings or this short vid, I think how grateful I am he only broke an arm once!  Seriously, look!
 

Thanks to Cee Neuner for creating this fun and insightful weekly challenge!  Be sure to check other bloggers’ answers by clicking here.  Better still, try your hand at this week’s questions, here!

Until next time…..

Share Your World: Week 42 (plus need some help with a plant i.d.)

It’s been months since I’ve written a Share Your World post…my apologies to Cee, who created this fun challenge!!  After reading the questions last Sunday, I promised to give them a whirl. Here goes 🙂 :

It’s a very hot and muggy day. You desperately want something very cool and refreshing to quench your thirst and revitalize your body. What would you drink?

Definitely seltzer water!  If it’s a week I’m flush with cash I buy White Rock or Perrier. This is not a week I’m flush with cash, (and Publix was selling BOGO 12packs last week,) so it’s La Croix all-day-every-day for the foreseeable future: 😉  Nothing hits the spot better than the sizzle dizzle of an ice cold La Croix; crystal clear, unflavored is my seltzer of choice regardless of brand.  As you can see, I took a can outside today while potting up a false globe amaranth ordered from Glasshouseworks.com (more about that website, later.)

Next question: 🙂

What do you keep in the trunk of your car?

At this time, I have neither a license nor vehicle, but I’ll share what I keep in the trunk of Maggie’s car.  None of these items needs explanation, beyond saying they’re VERY important to my mental health, as is the setting 😎

pssssst…..wanna know a secret?…the cooler is packed with Sizzle Dizzle!

Question 3

What is your favorite TV show that is currently on TV?

Without question, Good Cop!  The most amazing, well acted, best written drama to air on BBC in ages (trust me I know my Brit TV better than most Brits…for real!)  I’ve figured out a million different ways to access their past and present shows (for free via my laptop,) so why do I still pay for Cable!??!!  Oh right ➡ Tremé and Homeland are why I keep  ATT U-Verse, but both pale in comparison to my beloved lineup on the BBC!  Watch the Good Cop trailer to see what I mean:

On to the final question:

Is it more important to love or be loved?

If you define love as popularity or ego-stroking accolades, you might say it’s more important to be loved. I’m of the opinion, you can’t truly be loved without loving others. I’m not sure I even answered the question! Maybe I should go into politics?  🙂

Now to the plant identification portion of the post…

Last week I ordered 5 conservatory plants (their choice) from Glasshouseworks.com winter bloomer collection.  I was thrilled with the selection, vitality and size of everything sent. This one, labeled Coleus Thyrsoideus, was a plant I’d never seen before:

Being unfamiliar with this specimen, I immediately did some research: the flower and foliage above look nothing like any pictures or artist’s renderings I found online so I re-read the catalog description at Glasshouseworks:

41100 COLEUS [PLECTRANTHUS] THYRSOIDEUS LAB HP CGH PRICE: $ 4.00
“Flowering Coleus” This is a clone we received from Longwood Gardens some 15
years ago. We have been told that the flower is not at large as it should be to
be the true form; we are researching this now. Order with this in mind. The
picture is of our clone. We have included pictures from one of our customers
here also. If you can give us any further information, please do. Attractive
much-branched compact shrub covered with spikes of indigo-blue flowers
mid-winter. Easy hobby greenhouse plant as popular with growers today as with
Victorian gardeners for the impressive display of mid winter blossoms. Sometimes
this is classified as a Plectranthus…

So evidently they’re aware of a discrepancy. 🙂

I love a good garden mystery!  Do any of you have the same plant I do?  Here is a close-up of the flower and leaves:

Let me know if you recognize it or know the common or botanical names!

Until next time…..

🙂 🙂

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Share Your World: Week 30

I really like this week’s Share Your World questions; they’re interesting but also fun!  I’ll dig right in. 🙂

You are invited to a party that will be attended by many fascinating people you never met.  Would you attend this party if you were to go by yourself

Absolutely! I never mind doing things by myself–in fact, most of the time I enjoy everything more when I do it alone. Before you go thinking “this one needs a good therapist,” let me explain: I’m soooooo far from antisocial!  Antisocial would = NOT going to “a party of fascinating people” whether by oneself OR with others, yeah?

As the years have progressed, I’ve come to understand my preference for “aloneness.” It has nothing to do with being afraid to trust people and everything to do with how I process events and situations. Were I at this fictional party, I’d be off to the side, watching others interact, and zeroing in on who I’d like to talk to and when. I’d spend time working the room (in my head,) and then I’d be off working my plan.  Summing up, I go it alone (alot!) for reasons of personal freedom..one of the things I like most about being an adult!

If you were the original designer of one existing corporate logo, which one would you select?

I really like this one, used the past few years for an Austin TX Christmas Bazaar.

Isn’t this ingenious?

If you could be a student of any university in the world right now, where would you enroll? 

Oxford!  but not because it’s a prestigious, world-class institution of higher learning! Nay, nay!!!  My reasons are completely shallow: Inspector Lewis (one of my FAVE Brit T.V. dramas) is filmed in and around Oxford ➡ I’d love to see the cast and crew on location and row over to Kew Pier as they did in the most recent episode!  In case you’re wondering, “hmmm…would she do THIS alone too?!”  LOL!! Yes, right up ’til I rented the rowboat, at which time I’d change my tune, turn on the charm, and try to talk (bribe?) an able-bodied man into handling the oars. Upon arrival at the Botanical Gardens,  I’d bid him farewell…unless he bore a resemblance to this guy:

…in which case, I’d allow him to hang around. 😉

Ok, last question and good thing, too! I’m getting downright juvenile!

If you had to spend one weekend alone in a single public building or institution, which building would you choose?

Hold on to your hats…or sit down…or do whatever it is you do in preparation of crazy news:

Without question, I’d hop a Janet flight to Area 51!   You all know I’m a huge UFO nut, and I really want proof that Extra Terrestrials exist!  Area 51 is so off-limits and secretive, I feel like something MAJOR must be hidden there.  I keep listening to Coast to Coast (and hoping for some sort of government disclosure) but 48hrs in a secret military base ❓ That would be VERY interesting indeed!

Area 51 (Photo credit: OakleyOriginals)

Well, that’s it from me,  but there are many other Week 30 responses and interesting Zemanta links below to keep you reading!

Until next time 🙂 🙂

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Share Your World: Week 26

I haven’t written a Share Your World post in awhile! To celebrate the 6 month anniversary of Cee’s great idea, I’ll participate via the questions she posed last week:

What made you smile today?

Definitely this:

Passiflora Incense, June 12, 2012

How could that NOT brighten a day!?

There are over 400 different varieties of passiflora, and though some grow wild in Florida, the one pictured here is a hybrid cultivar of P. incarnata crossed with P. Cincinnata. (Thank you, Ben Kolstad for the plant i.d. 🙂 )

I’m thrilled to tell you I have a second species of this beautiful vine growing on a different trellis. No flowers in evidence just yet (it’s a brand new, pass-along from a gardening classmate) but I’m expecting a different look when it starts blooming. Unlike P. Incense (whose foliage features 5 lobed leaves,) my younger vine is of the 3 lobed variety. Perhaps it’s a native? Of course, pictures to follow!

Have any hidden talents?

I’m not sure if this counts, but I’m wicked good at deciphering Captchas! Since learning of its role in digitizing physical books, newspapers, and old radio broadcasts, I’ve actually become quite the Captcha fan 😉 !  Evidently I’m not the only one with this proclivity! Seems a trio of hackers was just days away from infiltrating my fave Turing Test!  You can read all about it here!

Are you usually late, early, or right on time?

Let me put it to you this way: I’m ALWAYS ready early if I’m making a deposit in my bank account, or heading to the beach!! If my plans involve other destinations, it depends on distractions that happen while I’m getting ready…(what the Nancy Drew books of my youth referred to as “doing one’s toilette” 😎 )

In other words, should I poke myself in the eyeball with the mascara wand “while doing my toilette”….or the cat coughs up a hairball….or the Keurig won’t dispense….these distractions might tie me up and hinder a timely departure ➡ Unless it’s a bank/beach day when I’d ignore the runny eye/cat vomit/lack of Java until my return….You feel me?  Thought so! 🙂

All kidding aside, I’m pretty dependable in matters of time. Currently I’m not driving, so I’m very conscious of detaining the kind people carting me around!

What is the difference between being alive and truly living?

That’s easy!

Truly living means being present in whatever moment you’re in–the bad ones as well as the good ones! It means accepting life on life’s terms and dropping “I wish” from your vocabulary. Looking too far ahead, dwelling in the past or wishing you were dealt a different hand: those are characteristics of just being alive—where’s the fun in that?

On that note, I’ll leave you with a few other passion flower pics, and a reminder to scroll to the very bottom for other week 26 postings from Share Your World!

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Until next time….

🙂 🙂 🙂

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Share Your World, Week 24….and a few cactus facts!

I’ve fallen behind with my Share Your World postings; rather than play catch-up, I’ve opted to jump back in with this week’s questions. 🙂

Are you left or right handed?

I always say I’m right dominant because that’s my “writing” hand, yet many things I do primarily left-handed. I do everything on my smart-phone with my left hand, exclusively. I stir pots and use cooking and baking utensils with my left, and only use my left hand when applying eye-makeup…wierd…yeah?  I remember reading that handedness is a genetic trait…If that’s true, I may have passed it to my sons, both of whom write “lefty!”

What is one thing you love about being an adult?

Making all my own rules, and conversely, throwing them out the window at will!  These things are huge to me. I hate feeling stifled, or like I “should” do this or “should not” do that! I’m well aware this makes me sound like a spoiled brat. 😉 Next question!

What do you need to unlearn?

Are you ready for this?  The ridiculously embarrassing way I count hours.  For instance: when I worked shifts at Staples we’d have to arrive at 8am. If I left the store at 3pm and you asked how many hours I worked, I couldn’t tell you without first doing this: 8 to 9, 1hr…9 to 10, 2hrs..10 to 11, 3hrs…11 to 12, 4hrs…and on and on until I got to the hour I clocked out! This is no joke….i DO this!  Thankfully, I didn’t work 12hr shifts too often!! I’d still be there “counting!”  LOL!!

What is success for you?

When I was young and looking toward my future, I only ever really wanted to be a mother.  I didn’t have professional/career goals beyond that.  If you’ve read my blog at all, you know I have 3 kids who have grown into lovely young adults who are also “fine citizens.” Success, for me is knowing they’re on paths that are right for them individually, and I take credit for allowing them to ALWAYS be themselves, especially on days I wished they were making different choices.  I think that was my biggest success as a parent…I had excellent instincts about when to get out of the way.

I totally enjoy answering Cee’s questions, but love reading everyone else’s replies more. Click the link, and consider participating, too. 🙂

Before I close,  I have to share a few facts I learned today, quite accidentally!

I was working in my gardens around 3pm and noticed one of my cacti had bloomed:

We’re in rainy season now, so thunderstorms blow in most afternoons like clockwork, and today was no exception. 🙄  Although short-lived, the winds blow strong and the rain hits hard: I assumed when I went back outside, the cactus blooms would be shredded on the ground.

I was wrong!!

It seems that Mammillaria Sheldonii cacti flowers “self-protect” by closing during inclement weather. I had no idea!

I also learned something else by visiting the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum website: the mammillaria buds in my pictures were actually produced LAST summer. They stay dormant until the first big summer rain occurs, causing them to burst into bloom 5 days later!  Dang if that isn’t EXACTLY what happened ➡ the rainy season began here last week!   Fascinating!

Until next time…….

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Share Your World, Weeks 20 & 21

In early March, I followed a link to Cee’s Life Photography where I found the Share Your World project.  I missed participating last week–my oldest son is here for vacation and we’ve been outdoors each day, enjoying all that Florida has to offer!

Documenting the documentation of TC's vacation! 🙄

In an effort to catch-up, I’m answering 8 questions today 🙂 so let’s get started!

How old would you be if you didn’t know how old you are?

If this question is asking, “how old do you feel?” I’d have to say “ageless.” ➡ In the parade of life,  time marches on yet we’re always “at ease” on the inside!  I feel exactly the same as I did 10,20,30 (or more) years ago.

What is the kindest thing anyone has done for you?

I’ve been ruminating on this question for the entire week, and I’ve chosen to share an ordinary “kindness” that held extraordinary meaning at the time.   During my Junior year in college I was an intern in Sen. Kennedy’s office in Washington, D.C.  I was unable to get home for Easter (Spring) Break and was alone for the week in the apartment I shared with 3 other interns.  In essence, I’d never been more than an hour’s drive away from home and never been “solo” in a big city apartment building!! It was exciting, lonely, exhilarating, scary…my feelings vacillated minute by minute.  When the Senator’s Press Secretary (a woman I knew fairly well from the political campaign) realized I was alone for the holiday, she invited me to Easter Sunday Brunch at her house.  She lived behind Capitol Hill near Union Station; I was clear across the city in Northwest, at Alban Towers.   She offered to have someone pick me up, but I adamantly declined–I wanted to test myself further by arriving on my own via public transportation, which of course I managed, no problem. A zillion years hence, every detail of this event is SO clear in my mind…Getting the invitation in the mail (my first non-family, non-friend invite!); deciding what to wear with no one around to ask how i looked; figuring out the holiday Metro schedule in the pre-google era; walking a good distance from the final bus stop to a house I’d never seen!!!   A co-worker’s simple kindness resulted in one of the biggest days of my life ➡  It allowed me to think of myself as an adult. HUGE!!

What was your favorite childhood television program?

Lost in Space!!!!  My love affair with Sci Fi tv and movies continues to this day!  “Danger, Will Robinson!” 😮

Which cooking utensil (other than the usual pots and pans etc) would you miss the most?

Let me show you what Maggie and I use instead of a colander! We just got this third-hand, old-time utensil last month and LOVE it so much:

Perfect strainer when cooking for 1 or 2!

Now that I’ve caught up with the rest of you, let’s answer Week 21’s questions!

If you were having difficulty on an important test and could safely cheat by looking at someone else’s paper, would you do so?

No, because if I’m having trouble with it, everyone else is most likely flunking! I typically do well with anything school related.

Since adolescence, in what three-year period do you feel you experienced the most personal growth and change?

Definitely the three years I’ve been here in Florida!  Life is very different now!  My bills are manageable, my house is smaller, and the sun is out so frequently it’s hard NOT to feel positive on a daily basis.  Also, my kids are all grown up now, so the daily responsibilities of cooking/laundry/cleaning have lessened.  I can read more, think more, do “whatever” more!  Since I’ve been here I look forward to every single morning, afternoon and evening which sure as h-e- double toothpicks wasn’t the case a few years back!!  🙂

If you could change one thing about your home, what would you like to change?

Well, since I just raved about how great life is in a small house, I feel ridiculous saying I need more space! (not for living..for storage!)  I would like the cellar and/or laundry room from my old house to suddenly appear at this address! 😉

If you were given a yacht today, what would you name it?

Now this is a FUN question and quite easy!  I would name it: Estas’Sea! for two reasons: Maggie and I are Esta and Esta..and Estas’Sea! sounds a bit like “ecstasy” which is the state of mind we’d be in upon receiving a yacht!  😉

Until next time….

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Share Your World Weeks 18 &19 plus a bit of family fun!

This past week has been so much fun! 🙂 Jack (second son)  arrived after Easter for a 6 day mini-vacation, and we’ve been alternately at the beach or binging on word games. 🙂   A few years ago we discovered Bananagrams–and shortly after that,  Appletters–so whenever we’re together it’s game ON!   However even hardcore “gamers” need a break, so on Saturday we joined several thousand other people for the Hibiscus Festival!

“Click the pictures to see us full size!”

Oh! Odd! As I’m looking at the Week 18 Share Your World questions in real time, I see the first one’s about games, albeit those of another kind:

Do you play video/computer games?  Which one(s) or most recent?

No, I don’t play any video games and neither does my daughter…but my boys do! However, I do play Words with Friends (on Facebook) with Jack. 🙂

When writing by hand do you prefer to use a pencil or pen?

Pencil! But since I only have a rinky-dink, dollar store, half-a$$ed sharpener, I typically end up with a pen in my hand, instead! 🙄

What has surprised you about blogging?

I knew I’d enjoy documenting the day to day minutiae of my life, but I didn’t think anyone else would ➡  I’ve been most surprised by “followers” and readers leaving comments!

If you had a shelf for your three most special possessions (not including people or animals), what would you put on it?

This one is very difficult, but three things I’d hate to lose are (in no particular order): a Police Tour T-shirt purchased for me by my kids in 2007 at  Bonnaroo; a tray Maggie made for me featuring her High School Senior Portrait; my C. Crane am/fm shortwave pocket radio on which I’ve listened to Coast to Coast AM (my all time, favorite, overnight radio show) for the past ten years. In fact, one night Jack called the show and got on!!! If you click this link ➡  Jack calls Coast to Coast radio, you’ll not only see the radio, you’ll hear the VERY cool on-air conversation!

Moving on to the next set of questions: Week 19, Share Your World!

Do you believe in ghosts?

Bigtime!!!! When we lived up north in our 1898 Queen Anne Victorian we DEFINITELY had a ghost living with us!  The old Queen Annes have double width staircases and broad landings that allow for people to pass each other, climbing up and down.  Many a time we (and our friends/guests) would feel a presence in this area, or catch a glimpse of fleeting shadows on the stairs…..Eerie!!!   As I said in a previous blog post about “Hatman”  we may not know where, but the “truth is out there,” and I firmly believe in shadow people and ghosts!

What is your best recipe?

My chicken salad with fresh blueberries, chopped onions, chopped celery and feta cheese!   There’s no actual recipe, though.   Based on how many I’m feeding, I poach an appropriate quantity of chicken breast to cube after cooling.  Then I throw the chicken cubes in a mixing bowl with the celery and onion I’ve pre-chopped as the chicken boiled; stir in the fresh blueberries, followed by 3/4 of the feta.  The dressing is a mix of sour cream and mayonnaise in a one-to-one ratio that I’ve stirred REALLY well in a seperate mixing bowl.   I scoop the dressing into the chicken/ingredient bowl, mixing thoroughly as I add.  When it “looks right”  I’m done!  Then I sprinkle the remaining feta on top and chill it until either serving as is, or using as a sandwich filling.   If I have leftover “dressing,” I scoop the remainder into a bowl to use later as a base for crudite/chip dip.  (It stays “good” for approx 5 days, if refrigerated)

What is your most favorite smell/scent?

Origins Ginger Essence!  I’ve been wearing it exclusively since learning about it on Oprah’s talk show in 2006!

What subject was your favorite in all of your schooling? Why?

Don’t laugh….6th grade world history, the chapter on the Greeks and their architecture!  I remember the EXACT page numbers (72-73) and the details of the pictures showing the Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian columns.  I’ve done numerous web searches over the years to track down the name of the textbook, but have come up empty.  I’d love to see the entire book again and will buy it–regardless of price–when I locate the right edition!

Well that’s it for now, and as always, huge thanks go out to Cee, of Cee’s Life Photography for bringing us all together via Share Your World!

As a final note,  Jack flies back home tomorrow but my other son arrives for a 10 day stay on Saturday!!!  Typically they travel here together, but their work schedules didn’t allow it this time around!

Until next time……

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Share Your World, Week 17

If you’ve been following along, this is my 4th week of participation in the Share Your World Project, and I like it immensely!  It allows me to tell you something about myself without self consciously saying  “hey! look at me!”—I’m not a big fan of being on stage!

This week’s topics:

At what time in your recent past have you felt most passionate and alive?

Would you believe, just yesterday?!  It’s absolutely true!  Maggie and I have been ruminating about buying a two person kayak. Yesterday we went to the 29th Annual Vero Beach Boat Show and decided this is the one for us:

Learning something new is exciting!

As the caption says, I’m thrilled to attempt something new!  We live between the Indian River and the Atlantic and this sleek number can travel both!  Primarily we’ll take it on the river to explore  little islands and look for dolphins and manatees!  Fun for us to do as mother and daughter and wicked good  for when the boys visit. 🙂

What individual item of food would you not eat, even if it was served to you at the Queen/President’s dinner table? (Something ordinary.)

Not sure if this is ordinary, but the first thing that came to mind is caviar!  I’ve been to several functions/cocktail parties where people rave about it, but the sheer thought of swallowing slimy round fish eggs gives me agita! ➡ Italian indigestion, for those unfamiliar with the term!  I grew up in a predominantly Italian area where “don’t give me agita!” was a common refrain!

If you could choose between Wisdom and Luck, which one would you pick?

I already feel I’ve been unbelievably lucky throughout my life…I win contests quite often, and I somehow land on my feet when I absolutely shouldn’t.  So I guess I  chose “Wisdom” so I don’t always have to rely on good luck?  😛 🙂

What was the last time you went to a new place?

Last Tuesday, we had our certification ceremony at The Indian River Garden Club. After the little graduation we were treated to a lovely lunch there, too!  Given my interest in plants and horticulture, it’s funny to think I’d never laid eyes on the place before snapping this shot on the way in:

So now that you know a bit more about me, why not discover the other 30+ participants?   You can get started by clicking this link!

Until next time…..

Share Your World, Week 16

Another week gone by!

Ready for this week’s installment of the Share Your World Project?  Here goes!

If you had a choice, which would be your preference: salt water beaches, fresh water lakes, hot tub, or desert?

As evidenced by where I currently live, I’d have to say “salt water beaches!”  In fact, I was at one yesterday 😆

It was a truly spectacular day, with a water temperature of 77 degrees!  Perfection!

What book do you think everyone should read and why?

The Passage, written by Justin Cronin and published in 2010.

I read it last spring and have NOT stopped thinking about it!  Imagine a post-apocalyptic world in which EVERY piece of technology and every modern device is made irrelevant as you fight for survival against a virus engineered by the military. Complicated characters and elegant sentences make each page a delight to read, even as you wince at the horror of it all.  766 pages, yet I felt it was too short!  The second book of this three part trilogy is due out in October and I can’t wait!

What’s your favorite way to wake up and what’s the first thing you do?

My favorite way to wake up?  Sans alarm clock! 😉 Unfortunately, it doesn’t happen often enough!  I REALLY dislike that jarring noise…. and the jolt it brings!   Once I’m awake, the very first thing I do is check my cell for messages from my sons. They live up north and sometimes text me after I’ve gone to bed;  seeing their little notes always kicks my day into high-gear!

What do you do to relax?

I spend time in my garden!

I took this picture on Saturday while pruning dead wood from a yellow alamanda.  I was surprised to see it’s first new bloom peeking through a nearby oriental arborvitae:

Today I repotted two orchids—a purple speckled phalaenopsis that looked tired after a cycle of blooming, and an older brassia severely cramped in its original pot. I also transplanted a plethora of mirabilis to an area with partial shade along the back fence. Basically I “puttered away” a good deal of the afternoon, and found it VERY relaxing!  😮

So there you have it ➡ a little glimpse into my (very) little world. 🙂 Now it’s your turn to participate by clicking right here!

Until next time!

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